4 h. ago Australia’s social media ban launched with barely a hitch – but the real test is still to come

The policy to cut off social media access for more than 2 million under-16s remains popular with Australians, while other countries look to follow suitOn the lawns of the prime minister’s Kirribilli residence in Sydney, overlooking the harbour, Anthony Albanese said he had never been prouder.“This is a day in which my pride to be prime minister of Australia has never been greater. This is world-leading. This is Australia showing enough is enough,” he said as the country’s under-16s social media ban came into effect on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Reddit launches High Court challenge against Australia’s social media ban

Both legal actions contend the legislation is unconstitutional

Events

9 h. ago Reddit launches High Court challenge to Australia's social media ban for under

Platform fights landmark ban on use of social media by young people saying it is preventing free political expression

Events

12 h. ago Planning to visit the US? Take it from this American citizen – don’t | Eleanor Limprecht

I love many things about the land of my birth but Donald Trump’s America has become an unwelcoming country of deep divisions and waning trustI’m in the US right now, but if I didn’t have family here (and a US passport), I wouldn’t be. My teenagers and I flew over the week of Thanksgiving from Australia, preparing ourselves for long lines and extra questions at customs. It took less than five minutes in the US citizens’ line.With the news this week of the Trump administration planning to implement new invasive requirements for travellers from 42 countries, including Australia, that would require five years of social media history for visas, I would simply not travel here on another passport. There are plenty of places which welcome visitors without trawling their political opinions and family history. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Meghan and Harry warned as couple accused of 'meddling' in politics AGAIN by praising Australia's social media ban for under 16s 

Australia is the first country to impose national age limits on social media, with 10 major platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, required to block anyone under 16 from creating an account.

Events

32 h. ago The Standard podcast: Should the UK enforce a social media ban for under

Listen here on your chosen podcast platform.

Politics

33 h. ago Following Australia's lead, Denmark plans to ban social media for children younger than 15

Denmark is planning to follow Australia in introducing stricter restrictions for younger teens to access social media

Politics

36 h. ago Australia demands social media giants report progress on account bans for children under 16

Australian authorities are demanding major social media platforms report on account deactivations since a ban on users under 16 became law

Politics

37 h. ago Will Australia’s social media ban survive a high court challenge from two teenagers? Most likely – here’s why | Luke Beck

The under-16s ban is a pragmatic first step in trying to reduce the potential harm on young people of addictive products. It is not undermining the democratic processGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA constitutional challenge is pending against the government’s under-16 social media account ban. The case argues that the law contravenes the implied freedom of political communication. It is likely to fail.Two 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, backed by the Digital Freedom Project advocacy group will argue that the law is unconstitutional because it impermissibly burdens the implied freedom of political communication. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Prince Harry and Meghan issue an extraordinary statement about Australia's social media ban and fire a scathing blast at big tech: 'It shouldn't have come to this'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have issued a message for Australia.

Politics

38 h. ago Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issue statement: 'It shouldn't have come to this'

The statement, released through the Archewell Foundation, discusses Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's thoughts on Australia's decision to ban under-16s from social media

Politics

45 h. ago Should the US adopt Australia’s social media ban for teens? Experts weigh in

As millions of teens in Australia had their Instagram accounts deactivated, psychotherapists and psychologists in the US say this social media ban is for the better

Politics

50 h. ago ‘Already had a profound effect’: parents react to Australia’s social media ban

We asked you to share your views on your children’s use of social media and how the ban is affecting your family. Here is what you told usFor some parents, social media sucks up their children’s time and steals them away from family life, instilling mental health issues along the way. For others, it provides their children with an essential line to friends, family, connection and support.When Australia’s social media ban came into effect on Wednesday, millions of under-16s lost access to their accounts and were prevented from creating new ones. Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago Russell Crowe says makers of Gladiator II did not ‘understand what made the first one special’

The actor has criticised the creative team behind the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, saying it lacked the moral core that defined the original Oscar-winning filmRussell Crowe has said that the makers of Gladiator II did not “understand what made that first one special”.In interview excerpts posted on social media by Australian radio station Triple J, Crowe said that the Gladiator sequel, which starred Paul Mescal and was released in 2024, was let down by “the people in that engine room not actually understanding what made that first one special”. Continue reading...

Politics

54 h. ago Gen Z have their own idea that could be far more effective than Australia’s social media ban

As Australia pulls the plug on social media for under-16s, Lydia Spencer-Elliott speaks to teenagers about how they really feel about the ban – and discovers why the new trend for ‘zero posting’ could be much more effective

Politics

55 h. ago UK could introduce social media ban for under 16s, minister says

Australia's ban on social media accounts for the under 16s comes into force today

Politics

58 h. ago Aussie teens have left the chat: World first social media ban for under 16s goes into effect as it wipes out more than 1.5million accounts

Australia has officially adopted its world-leading legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from social media.

Economics

60 h. ago Scotland 'should consider' following Australia and ban social media ban for under

EXCLUSIVE: A Scottish Labour MP said "we shouldn’t waste time arguing about whether to follow suit" if the Australian social media ban is proven to work.

Politics

62 h. ago Australia news live: PM says ‘enough is enough’ as social media ban comes into effect; Gina Rinehart’s helipad plan rejected

Follow the latest updates liveSocial media ban: some platforms still allowing 14-year-olds as landmark ruling comes into forceCallout: How is Australia’s social media ban affecting you and your family?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastInman Grant says getting ‘the most powerful, rich companies’ to comply was always going to be messyInman Grant said she expects kids to experience massive changes as the social media ban sticks around. The eSafety commissioner added that some social media companies were more difficult to work with than others during the rollout of the ban, telling ABC News:To the extent that there are seven stages of grief, we have seen some be very accepting, some in denial, some are quite angry.I guess that shows the character of the company and how they’re taking this. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago Albanese is taking away social media for children but hanging out mistletoe for AI. It’s magical thinking | Peter Lewis

The PM won big by convincing us we could avoid the madness of Donald Trump’s new world order but Labor’s feeble AI plan embeds Australia deeply in its orbitGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastI’m blaming Santa. As 2025 reaches its inevitable endgame, I can’t help thinking we have all become gullible children enthralled by the promise of tech cornucopia, refusing to see the folds in our logic because deep down we don’t want to break the magic.While the federal government prepares to take the toys off the children with its world-first social media ban, it is hanging out the stockings for the self-same tech overlords to fill with new goodies via its light-touch National AI Plan. Continue reading...

Politics